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Gender Roles In Othello

1221 Words5 Pages

Class and gender have always been and will most likely always play a large part in a person’s character. From the lowest social status all the way to the highest, there are definite and obvious differences in members not only on the exterior but on the interior as well. There is no exception to this idea in one of Shakespeare’s greatest works, Othello in which different social statuses can be observed between the only three women in the play and their relationships with men. The fact that Shakespeare chose to portray class between these three women and chose to make these the only women present adds to the importance of the concept. Through characters Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca, a reader is able to construct a vivid opinion on the topics …show more content…

She is the wife of the mischievous Iago, and when examining the two together, it is obvious Emilia must have a strong confidence to deal with a husband like Iago. Iago, who causes trouble and even insults women at one point in the play, must be part of if not all of the root cause of Emilia’s strong personality. This personality, visible when Emilia talks to her friend Desdemona, is very different from the mindset of the latter. Emilia sees the importance in her worth and the worth of women in general and compared to Desdemona, is not as swayed by the presence of a man. Toward the end of the play, Emilia preaches to Desdemona about the hypocrisy of men in adultery situations when she says: “What is it that they do When they change us for others? Is it sport? I think it is. And doth affection breed it? I think it doth. Is ’t frailty that thus errs? It is so too. And have not we affections, Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have? Then let them use us well, else let them know, The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.”” (Shakespeare IV.III). Emilia is not as inattentive as Desdemona when it comes to self worth and the worth of women. Emilia’s lifestyle, in a lower class than Desdemona who is her mistress, leads her to be more aware of her own value and more defensive of her own worth when put in situations where she needs to be. It is unfortunate Emilia’s persuasion did not affect Desdemona in a …show more content…

Even down to her very last line, Bianca defends herself and her occupation as she makes sure to note her equality to any other woman. She stands tall against those who doubt her in regards to not only herself but her relationship with Cassio and thus, a reader can see a great difference in her and Desdemona’s characters. Though Bianca is of lower class, she continues to value herself individually more than Desdemona could do for herself. Shakespeare’s including this concept into his play goes to show the importance of not only social class in regards to peers but the importance of such in regards to one’s own

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